As a partner in your firm, you have so much to do and oversee. Yet Pareto’s Law states that 80% of the value you produce comes from only 20% of your efforts. Do you know what 20% you should be concentrating on? Probably not.

Everything you decide to do at any particular moment you consider important. Otherwise, you would do something else. However, examining what you did at the end of the day may lead you to a different conclusion. “Where did the day go?” you ask yourself. Then you consider all the things you did, shrug your shoulders and say, “Well, they all had to get done sometime.”

One of the most valuable things you can do is to plan. Even if you have a full day, take a moment and think things through. Of everything there is to accomplish, what are the 20% that will add the most value to your clients, your firm and your colleagues? What should you do first?

If you don’t take the time to prioritize your list, you’ll likely fall into the traps that keep you from the all-important 20%. Here are a few of the traps that are common among professionals:

1. Start at the top. Your task list is in no particular order. You write things down as you think of them. Do you honestly believe they came to you pre-prioritized? Think again.

2. Do the easiest first. You think you’ll gain momentum for the big, complex tasks by knocking out the easy ones first. In reality, you rob yourself of your most productive time. What a waste.

3. Wait until you have time to finish. Some of the tasks on your list are complex. If you wait until you have time to finish, you’ll never do them.

 Instead, look at your list and select the tasks that will have the biggest impact on your business, keeping these things in mind:

• Do your planning early in the week. Before you get into the week, take 15-30 minutes to get your mind and activities in order.

• Break down complex tasks and advance them. You don’t have to complete everything as long as you advance them to completion.

• Make an agreement with yourself to complete them before the week is done. Yes, you may have to stay late the last day or two finishing up your tasks, but you’ll soon develop the discipline to get them done during the week. Without your agreement, you’ll let yourself off the hook and you’re back where you started.

By planning your week, you’ll get the important things done. If you use these tips, it will go easier. What else have you tried that works for you?

 Does anyone come to mind who would benefit from this blog? Forward the link to them and maybe it will help.